New subdivision proposed for east Galt would add 829 mixed residential units to Cambridge housing stock

Reid’s Heritage Homes wants to build 829 residential units on 22 hectares of land bordered by Main Street East and Franklin Boulevard. 

The city posted development applications to its website earlier this week for 840 and 940 Main Street and 345 Franklin Boulevard that include an official plan amendment, a zoning by-law amendment and a plan of subdivision. 

Located to the northeast of the roundabout at Main Street and Franklin Boulevard, the property, referred to in the application as the “Taylor lands” because the last owner's last name is Taylor, includes four separate parcels with a total area of 24.84 hectares (61.38 acres), all of which is vacant and includes natural features like woodlots, ponds and wetlands.

The southerly 14.2 hectares would be developed as a residential plan of subdivision in five blocks of multiple residential units and a future development block, two stormwater management blocks, trail connections, a public park and a new road connected to Main Street. 

The 829 units would consist of apartments, back-to-back townhouses and stacked townhouses.

The official plan amendment seeks to redesignate the land as high density residential, recreation, cemetery and open space and refine the boundaries of the natural open space system designation. 

The zoning by-law amendment seeks to zone the subject lands residential RM3, and open space OS4 and OS1. Site specific regulations for the residential RM3 zone are requested related to maximum density and setbacks in order to permit the orderly development of the multiple residential blocks.

The city says a date for a statutory public meeting, originally scheduled for April 19, has been postponed so the applicant and city staff can discuss the proposal in more detail. 

Once a public meeting date has been confirmed, notices will be circulated to homeowners within a 120 metre radius of the property.

A design document on the city's website says the proposed subidivision is ideally located next to “a well-connected network of streets, sidewalks and trail, and provides direct access to major employment areas, schools, retail and shopping opportunities within the Galt City Centre located two kilometres to the west.”

It's also next to existing transportation networks including Grand River Transit bus routes and the Franklin Boulevard multi-use trail to the north and south.

The developer says changes to Main Street within the development would include the addition of bike lanes and sidewalks.